BobBlast 591 - "Loosen Up with Colored Pencil Sketches"

BobBlast #591 Loosen Up with Colored Pencil Sketches   Welcome Back to Another BobBlast! I used to wonder, are colored pencils a fine art medium? Holbein’s new Colored Pencils have come a long way from those wimpy colored pencils I used in grade school. Lately, I have taken an interest in creating art using colored pencils, due to the advancement of modern technology—they’ve gotten better! Holbein’s new pencils are popular, lightfast and affordable. Also, no water needed, they feel smooth and blend well. The improved pigment load and lightfastness has renewed my interest for exploring yet another medium to make expressive art. Now, my daily studio practice includes sketching with colored pencils. I use a drawing pad, such as Fabriano Multimedia drawing paper and sketch an abstract exercise, using one or two colors. Nothing realistic for me—each day is a different color combination of graphic exploration. This time spent is not only relaxing, I also get my creative improv juices flowing to start my day. This practice gets me ready for looser acrylic paintings. Visit your local fine art materials store or go online to see your choices. My art style tends to be heavy-handed, so I prefer the heavy pigmented, vibrant and lightfast colors in the Holbein set. If you want to know more about working with colored pencils, join the Colored Pencil Society of America (CPSA). Members receive their own popular lightfastness workbook and magazine, titled “To the Point”. This society is strictly 100% colored pencil. All skill levels, styles and subjects are encouraged. What caught my attention was their encouragement for artists to explore blending, layering and use of solvents. BTW… I learned to use colored pencils when I went to art school. The big lesson I learned was pencil sharpening, using only a razor sharp blade, such as a #11 X-Acto blade. I had major respect the first day—watching the maestro in class, sharpening his pencils with his pocket knife. He was like Michelangelo to me. Stay tuned for our next BobBlast—we will come up with another fun lesson!  Purchase Bob’s Goof-Proof Color Wheel •Order from our website - https://robertburridge.com/burridge-p... •Also available as a Color Wheel Kit—emailed PDF •Burridge Color Wheel App, available at the Apple App Store   If you enjoyed this BobBlast, Sign Up for an Upcoming Online Workshops! 2026 schedule is on our website https://robertburridge.com/zoominwith...   •November 17, 2025 Neutrals! How to Create and Use! https://robertburridge.com/zoomin-wit...   •November 22-23, 2025 Painting Figures without Painting Figures https://robertburridge.com/zoomin-wit...   •December 6-7, 2025 Non-Objective Mixed Media https://robertburridge.com/zoomin-wit...   New Online Workshop for January 2026! Contemporary Faces January 17-18, 2026 Jump Start your Creativity! https://robertburridge.com/zoomin-wit...   Upcoming Online Demos •November 13, 2025 Reductive Painting: Negative Shape •December 11, 2025 Choosing Color Combinations that Work •January 11, 2026 Non-Local Color https://robertburridge.com/monthly-de... Bob's Monthly Demo Recordings for Sale Miss any Demos? You can purchase a recording! https://robertburridge.com/robert-bur...   Schedule Your 2026 Mentor Workshop Today! •March 5-8, 2026 •May 28-31, 2026 •August 6-9, 2026 •October 1-4, 2026 - Sold Out •November 5-8, 2026 These workshops are in-person, Burridge Studio, Arroyo Grande, CA Contact [email protected] We also have SIX 2 and 3 day In-Person Studio Workshops Scheduled for 2026 https://robertburridge.com/burridge-s...   Traveling Bob – In-Person Workshops! •January 5-9, 2026 Abstract Acrylic Painting & Collage Tucson Arizona at Tanque Verde Ranch Sponsored by Madeline Island School of the Arts contact 715-747-2054 or [email protected] https://www.madelineartschool.com/sho...   •January 24-31, 2026 Loosen Up with Color and Collage in Mexico Casa de Los Artistas Boca de Tomatlán, 10 miles South of Puerto Vallarta  Contact Robert Masla, (413) 335-4295 https://artworkshopvacations.com/feb-...   Burridge Online Coaching • Private one-on-one Critiques • Coaching • Comments • Strategies https://robertburridge.com/burridge-o...